Next generation transparent solar windows based on customised integrated photovoltaics

Project Information

Solar-Win

Grant agreement ID: 870004

DOI

10.3030/870004

Project closed

EC signature date 11 July 2019

Start date 1 October 2019

End date 31 December 2021

Funded under

• Horizon 2020 Framework Programme

Total cost

€ 3 095 812,50

EU contribution

€ 2 419 593,75

Coordinated by

FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE RECERCA EN ENERGIA DE CATALUNYA
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Solar-Win (Next generation transparent solar windows based on customised integrated photovoltaics)

Reporting period: 2020-10-01 to 2021-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

EU regulations (EPBD 2010/31/EU) are driving the architectural sector to the development of more energy efficient buildings, aiming to reach near-zero energy buildings (nZEBs). It is forecasted that the nZEB sector will grow at a CAGR=18.7% over the next years, leading to a total market of $47.7b by 2026, and representing around one third of the total building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) market. Building facades have a large area for collecting sunlight in nZEBs, and constitute a unique opportunity for the deployment of BIPV windows. However, their market acceptance is strongly conditioned by their transparency and colour appearance. The Solar-Win project aims to develop, scale-up industrially and validate under real-world operation conditions (TRL8) an innovative transparent photovoltaic (PV) window concept with a unique set of characteristics, namely: (1) transparent and visually non-intrusive, (2) ability to generate up to 30 W/m2 of green electricity; (3) full compatibility with existing window manufacturing technologies; (4) lifespan equivalent to standard windows; and (5) cost effectiveness.

The Solar-Win window achieves these characteristics employing a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) concept in which a luminescent coating absorbs surplus light in the visible region and re-emits it in the near infrared region. Re-emitted light travels through the window laterally towards CIGSe-based customized PV modules that are located in the space between the double-glazed planes at the window frame and generate electrical power. Four different partners join their efforts together in order to achieve the development of the Solar-Win window: PHYSEE (a technology-based SME from the Smart Window sector), SUNPLUGGED (a technology-based SME from the PV sector), IREC (a flagship RTD organisation with a strong experience and background in advanced materials characterization, technology transfer and optimisation of thin film PV technologies), and ACCIONA (a leader construction company which belongs to the main costumer segment). Solar-Win overcomes a major barrier that presently limits a further deployment of BIPV solutions, which relates to its intrusive character. Moreover, Solar-Win allows achieving a disruptive advance extending drastically the possibilities for integrating PV solutions in virtually any kind of buildings just by a simple installation and/or a direct replacement of conventional building windows.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The Solar-Win project has successfully achieved its main objectives thanks to the joint effort and adaptation capabilities of the different partners. The main outcomes of the project are the following:

a) A luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) technology and industrially scalable fabrication process based on PHYSEE’s patented SiAlO:Sm2+ luminescent coating especially tuned for a high photovoltaic response of SUNPLUGGED’s CIGS PV technology but also compatible with other PV technologies (c-Si, Perovskites…). The Solar-Win LSC technology enables the fabrication of truly non-invasive windows (transparency >85%) that are virtually indistinguishable from conventional windows resulting in a very appealing product for the growing architectural and BIPV sectors.

b) Implementation of a complete functional Monoscribe interconnection (SUNPLUGGED’s technology) roll-to-roll (RtR) pilot line for the manufacturing of a new generation of customizable flexible PV modules that allow developing efficient stripe-like geometry PV modules compatible with the Solar-Win solution. This technology has been proven to attain process yields >95% and module costs of 0.83€/Wp with efficiencies up to 14.3% (143 Wp/m²).

c) Implementation and validation in real operating conditions of an in-line process monitoring tool for SUNPLUGGED’s RtR CIGS PV pilot line based on novel optical-based methodologies by IREC compatible with the Industry 4.0. This tool allows to monitor SUNPLUGGED’s PV production in a semi-autonomous, fast and non-destructive way in RtR configuration enabling the early detection and fast correction of process deviations ensuring optimum production conditions.

d) Fabrication and monitoring in real operating conditions of Solar-Win window prototypes in four different demo-sites: ACCIONA’s Test Cell and Demo Park (Spain), PHYSEE’s Living lab (Netherlands) and IREC’s PV testing facilities (Spain). Additionally, long climate tests have been performed to ensure that the lifetime of the Solar-Win windows is above 20 years. These extensive testing has allowed to demonstrate that the Solar-Win technology is market-ready (TRL8) and that it is especially well-suited in building smart energy management environment.

e) Performance of over 50 different dissemination actions and definition of the final marketing and commercialization campaigns deepening into the business and commercialization plan of the Solar-Win results and focusing on PV Solar-Win window by PHYSEE, SUNPLUGGED’s customized CIGS PV elements and Monoscribe interconnection technologies and IREC’s in-line monitoring process tool and methodologies.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The Solar-Win project has enabled the fabrication of PV windows with a transparency > 85% and a color neutral appearance, enabling direct replacement of conventional windows in contrast to conventional BIPV products. This largely widens the potential penetration of Solar-Win windows in the market and facilitates the large scale implementation of BIPV window solutions as a common architectural element driving the building and architectural sector to the development of more energy efficient buildings in compliance with EU regulations (EPBD 2010/31/EU) aiming to reach near-zero energy buildings.

In addition, the Solar-Win project has also developed a low cost and highly customizable thin film PV technology in roll-to-roll configuration. Normally, solar modules present standard sizes and electrical outputs limiting their niches of application. In this regard, a highly customizable PV solution represents a step forward with respect to current technologies and has a direct application not only in BIPV but also in other applications where flexibility and customizability are essential like IoT, wearables, portable electronics, etc. All these applications can benefit from the customizable PV technology developed in the framework of Solar-Win which is becoming more and more relevant as PV is becoming more and more ubiquitous. Furthermore, the customizable PV technology based on CIGS developed in Solar-Win presents a superior performance to current solutions in the customized/integrated PV market based on a-Si.

Finally, the Solar-Win project has led to the development of cost-effective process monitoring strategies compatible with the Industry 4.0 based on non-destructive optical methodologies and compatible with roll-to-roll manufacturing of complex stacked semiconductors that can provide critical information at different fabrication steps. The implementation of a functional tool and its validation in real scenarios like SUNPLUGGED’s pilot line has allowed demonstrating the potential of this type of tools. This opens the door to the extension of this technology to other complex RtR processes to achieve energy-efficient, low environmental impact, and cost-effective Industry 4.0 production in critical industries such as flexible electronics, flexible PV, and graphene films, among others.

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